Protector for mail-box locks.



C. L. BOLL. PROTECTOR FOR MAIL BOX LOCKS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1912.

1,055,865. I A Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

I; /NVENTo/e UNITED stnrrnsI "PATENT onirica.y-

CHARLES L. BOLL, 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

PROTECTOR FOR MAIL-BOX LOCKS.

Specification of-Letters Patent. Patent-ed M312 11,1913.' Appncationlea May 21,

i912. seriai'No. 698,730. l

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, county of Vanderburg, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protectors for Mail-Box Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protectors for mail box locks.

In cold and wet weather, the lock of the ordinary street mail box frequently becomes frozen and the mail collector has difficulty l:3nd wastes considerable time in opening the My object is to provide an improved swinging protector constructed and attached to the box in a new manner which will be adapted to fall by gravity and so positioned that it will normally house the lock, but at the same time being adapted to be readily lifted by the mail collector and either held or fastened in raised position while the mail is being removed from the box.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to provide a swinging gravityactuated protector for the lock of a mail box and I do not broadly claim such a device, my invention consisting, first, in the construction of the protector itself; second, in the use of a hood under which the protector is disposed when closed so that rain, sleet and snow cannot gain access to the protector or to the lock and; third, in a device adapted to coperate with the protector when the latter is swung upwardly to hold it in that position while the mail is being taken from the box, or as long as may be desired, thus preventing accidental dropping of the protector on the hand or arm of the collector or in any manner interfer ing with the removal of the mail.

The invention is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features are recited in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a front view of a mail box equipped with the invention, dotted lines showing the position of the protector when raised and hooked up; Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4:, a detail perspective view of the protector.

A mail box of ordinary or standard type is shown at 1 as provided with the usual letter-receiving slot or door 2 by which mail matter is deposited in the box. At the end 1of the box is the usual `drop door.3 hinged `at't; '5 is thehasp ofthe lock for securing the door 3. As thus far described, the mail Ebox is of the ordinary type. y

I provide on the end of the box a hood having a. slanting top 6 and end walls 7. The hood may be attached to the box in any desired manner and it is arranged somewhat abovel the door 3. The protector 8 is closed at its upper end 9 and its outer face 10, being preferably rounded at its lower end 11, and there provided with a cut-out or notched part 12 and an aperture 13. The protector also has end walls lll, but it is otherwise hollow so that it will be adapted to house or receive the hasp 5 and the usual lock. The distance between the end walls 14 is such that the upper end of the protector is adapted to fit snugly, yet easily, in between the ears 7 of the hood. A pivot rod or bolt 15 passing through perforations substantially at or near the outer edge of the hood, pivots the protector 8 to said hood, there being provided hinge parts 16 and 17, respectively, on the hood and the protector.

In consequence of the disposition of the pivotal or hinge connections between the protector and the hood, when the protector is down, its upper end lies underneath the hood, and parts of its end walls 14 are also disposed within the hood and next the ears 7. Preferably the point of hinging o-f the protector to the hood is at the extreme corner of the protector and that of the hood, but the protector might be pivoted to the ears 7 so that the outer face thereof would be disposed nearer to the mail box, that is, the hood might overhang the protector. Preferably, the end 9 is provided on the protector, but owing to the disposition of the protector in relation to the hood, particularly if the hood was allowed to more or less overhang the protector, such end 9 might be dispensed with. The hood may be cast on the mail box or made of sheetinetal.

A suitable hook or catch 18 is provided on the end of the mail box at a point where hasp or lock is rendered impossible. The

mail collector inserts his fingers in the opening l2 and raises the protector, engaging it7 if desired, with the device 18. On disengagement from the device 18, the protector may be allowed to drop by gravity and will lremain in that position until access to the Inail box is again desired.

Having thus described my invention` what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a Inail box and its lock, of a hood composed of a sloping top and ends secured to the mail boX above the CHARLES L. BOLL.

Witnesses:

F. C. GORE, JETTNIA RIoKETTs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. C. 

